Boy With Autism Saves Choking Classmate With Trick He Learned From Spongebob Squarepants

We all learn differently, and for one young teen in New York, he picks things up ‘like a sponge’. Brandon Williams has become a local hero in his school, when he saved his classmate who started choking on her lunch. According to ABC News, The 13-year old noticed his classmate Jessica wasn’t able to breathe after she started choking on an apple – and he jumped into action. Brandom, who has autism, was quick to step in and help his friend Jessica Pellegrino by applying the Heimlich manoeuvre. Wrapping his arms around Jessica, he applied enough pressure to her tummy to help her spit out the offending item. When quizzed by his dad days later about where he’d learned the skills to perform the emergency procedure, Brandon said: "Learned it on Sponge Bob.” Brandon and Jessica are two students in a special-needs class with just 12 students in total. When, Brandon returned to school the next day, Jessica had a hug for her friend, telling him ‘thank you’. Explaining why he jumped into action so quickly, he bashfully told media: "I just love her.” Brandon’s father Anthony explained that Brandon learns by taking in memories and creating experiences – and would have understood the concept by watching his favourite cartoon put the move into action.